Envelop-moistener.



P. B. DOWNING.

ENVELOP MOISTNER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26. 1917.

Patented Oct. 16, 191?.

PHILIP B. DOWNIN G, 015 EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVEL OP-MOISTE NEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,730.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP B. DOWNING, a citizen of the United States, and a reeldent of Everett, in the county of MiddleseX and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in EnvelopMoisteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to envelop moisteners and its object is to simplify and improve the construction of the same and render them more positive in action in the manner hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification- Figure 1 is a trout elevation of an envelop moistener embodying my invention, 'Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same partly in section, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section.

In the particular drawings selected to illustrate the principle of my invention a tank 1 which may be of metal, glass, or other suitable material is provided with bearings 2 for receiving the trunnions 3 of the roller 4- which may be of rubber, porcelain, or other material. A standard 5 carrying a bracket 5 located above said roller is suitably attached to the tank, and in the present instance the attaching means consist of the screw 6 and thumb nut 7 passing through lateral projections integral with the tank and through the feet of the bracket.

Supported from and movable with respect to the lateral extension 5 of the bracket is a presser-foot 8, the stem 9 of which passes through and extends beyond the housing 10 which is threaded to said extension, a spiral spring 11 surrounding said stem and being arranged between the base of said housing and the collar 12 attached to said stem. In order to guide the presser in its movements toward and away from the roller 4, a pin 13 attached to the presser-foot and passing through an aperture in the lateral extension 5', or other suitable means, may be employed.

In order to remove the roller, the thumb nut 7 is unscrewed and the bracket rotated laterally about the screw 6 as a pivot.

The tank 1 having been filled with Water, the flap of an envelop is placed on the roller, and held in contact therewith by topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the the presser-foot which is lowered by the pressure of the operators finger on the head 14, and the envelop drawn over the roller so that the water which adheres to the latter will moisten the gummed portion of the flap.

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made in the apparatus above specifically described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An envelop moistener, comprising in combination a tank, a rotatable member journaled therein, and a manually-operable, spring-retracted presser-foot supported for reciprocal movement over said rotatable member. 7

2. An envelop moistener, comprising in combination a tank, a rotatable member journaled therein, a bracket attached to said tank and rotatable laterally with respect thereto, and a presser-foot supported by said bracket for reciprocal movement with respect to said rotatable member.

3. An envelop moistener, comprising in combination a tank, a rotatable member journaled therein, a bracket, means for pivotally connecting said bracket to said tank, means for securing said bracket in operative position with respect to said rotatable member, and a presser-foot supported for reciprocal movement by said bracket.

4. An envelop moistener, comprising in combination a tank, a rotatable member journaled therein, a manually operable, spring-retracted presser-foot supported for reciprocal movement over said rotatable member, and means for guiding said presser-foot.

5. An envelop moistener, comprising in combination a tank, a rotatable member journaled therein, a bracket attached to said tank, a stem mounted for reciprocal movement on said bracket, a presser foot secured to the lower end of said stem and arranged over said rotatable member, and a retractile spring maintaining said presser foot in its uppermost position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of January 1917.

PHILIP B. DOWNING.

Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. it. 

